When we arrived home, Frank pulled the car in front of our house and just as I was about to thank him he thanked me instead. And when I asked "For what?" he smiled and said for all the advices I gave him. In acknowledgement, I wore a befitting smile on my face and thanked him too for the hospitality. Thus, I stepped out of the car and he patiently waited for me to step into the house.
Unfortunately, when I walked to the door and knocked, there was no answer. I tried few more times but there was still no response. Just them Frank stepped out of the car and walked over to me, he asked if everything was okay and I told him the door was locked and I didn't think Jessica was around. Hence he advised me to call her. "Okay" I brought out my phone from my handbag and dialed her contact.
Fortunately for me, when I called she picked. "Jessica, I am home. Where are you?" I curiously asked.
"Where am I?" she scoffed, "You are back huh, I thought you would sleepover in your... whatever, I am not at home. No one is!"
"But then where are the keys?" I wanted to know where the keys were, where did she kept them? I wondered.
"They keys? With me, of course" she said.
"And where are you?" I asked in a command tone.
"I am at the hospital" she said. And just as I was about thundering her, Frank held my hand.
"Let's go to the hospital, I would like to see your aunt even though I know she's still not awake" he said calmly.
"Okay, thank you" I smiled and then returned back to the car together with him.
Hence, he ignited thr engine into action and began driving us to the hospital. As he continued to drive, my mind couldn't stop thinking about Jessica, if she was really in the hospital then what exactly what she doing there? It wasn't as if she was used to seeing her or visiting her mother at the hospital, or so I thought. Anyways, whatever it is... but if we find out she's lying then I would definitely revenge. I would make sure I strand her as well.
Shortly after we arrived at the hospital, we headed to Aunt Vicky's ward with me leading the way but to my utmost surprise, she wasn't there. The ward was infact empty. As confused as I was, I led us to Mrs Smith hospital which had a tag that reads Dr. Sophia Smith on the door. Unfortunately, she wasn't alone. She was discussing with someone, probably a patient or a patient's family, hence we apologized for the intrusion and left the office.
"Where do you think your aunt is at the moment, mind calling Jessica?" Frank said as he looked around as well.
"I should have asked Mrs Smith where my aunt is before leaving the office" I said ignoring his suggestion about calling Jessica, "Now where can we find her?" I wondered as I kept looking around.
"I still think you should call Jessica, or should I do that for you?" he said making me to absentmindedly glare at him. Did he just asked to call her on my behalf?
"No, I should be the one to do that!" I muttered, and just as I was about to dial her contact Mrs Smith came out of her office.
"Laura?" she said as she walked over to us.
"Ma'am, good evening. Sorry I barged into your office without taking permission, I should have knocked" I said as she gently embraced me, as in hug.
"No, it's okay" she said as we both averted from the hug, "I have been waiting for you even, sadly I don't have your contact and I don't want to get it from someone else. There is a good news about your aunt" she apprised me while beaming with smile.
"Good news? Wow, what's the good news please?" I curiously asked with my brows wrinkled, anticipating for her quick reply.
"The good news is your aunt is back to her conscious state. For that reason, we took her to another ward. She's no longer in the intensive care unit. Now, she's awake and gradually she will redeem her health" she said and just then I felt some moist gathered in my eyes. Was I already becoming emotional? I had really missed her, you know, that was why.
"Thanks, Ma'am!" I said as I hugged the woman again. This time around, I broke into tears. But I was gladly able to control myself.
"It's okay, Laura... it's okay" she gently patted my back. And after some minutes, we averted from the hug. Then she stop me where Aunt Vicky was taken to, "She's been asking about you since" she added, "You should hurry up and go"
"Thank you, Ma'am... Thank you so much!" I thanked her once again, totally overjoyed.
"You are welcome" she said and watched as Frank and I left, heading straight to the block where Aunt Vicky was relocated to.
"Wow, finally" Frank said as he trailed behind me, "I am happy for your aunt" he added.
"Thank you, Frank. I am happy for her too!" I glanced at him. Thus, I stood at the window of the ward and saw Jessica taking pictures close to her mother with Vivian and Shirley, however Suzanna was no where to be found which made me wondered if they had reconciled or not. But by the looks of things, I doubt if the two had reconciled.
I never intended tell Jessica about it in order not to cause rift between them, but I wasn't happy with the way they treated me that was why I decided to reveal everything to Jessica. That way, instead of masterminding and plotting against me, they would be busy debating and yelling at each other. Albeit I had full hope on Shirley, I thought she would be able to reconcile the two.
Just as I kept looking at them, Aunt Vicky saw me and gently pointed at me. She was wearing a genuine smile on her face. "Laura..." I read her lips, "come in please!" she instructed with her hand, while Jessica glared at me.
"Okay, ma'am" I muttered and walked towards the door with Frank. Shirley did the same from the inside and then quickly opened the door for us.
"Come in, princess" she said welcoming us with a broad smile on her face. However, my concern was Aunt Vicky. I swiftly walked over to her and hugged her warmly.
"I missed you, Aunt!" I uttered as I broke into tears.
"I missed you too Laura, although I can't remember staying long in coma. It was more like sleeping and waking up. But nevertheless, I get the message" she said as we averted from the hug.
"How are you feeling now, I hope you are feeling better?" I asked despite having been told by Mrs Smith that she was in good shape and would gently redeem her full health.
"Well, the doctors said I will be fine and I trust them" she said as she wiped the tears on my face with one of her hands, "Tears of joy," she said looking somehow sad, "from my niece" she blinked her eyes and then tears rolled down her cheeks as well. "Genuine love" she added.
"Ahhh!" Jessica said and stormed out of the ward. She was probably jealous, yes... jealous because her mother talked about the tears I shed the moment I saw. She might have expected the same from her daughter but reverse turned out to be the case. Anyways, we weren't created the same. We were all different, just because she didn't shed any tears doesn't mean she was wicked or wasn't genuine happy to see her mother back.
"Goodnight ma'am," Vivian said to Aunt Vicky as she followed Jessica out. Shirley did the same, but not without giving Aunt Vicky a hug first. She then assured that she would visit her again before they relocate, to which Aunt Vicky appreciated her kind gesture. She was really different from the rest, and what she did made me liked her even more.
With Frank and I the only ones remaining in the ward with Aunt Vicky, she asked him to sit on the empty chair in the other side of her bed... to which he hunbly did. Thus, they both greeted. "I hope you've been taking good care of my niece?" she playfully asked him although I believe she would be glad to know if I was well taken cared of by him while she was unconscious. "Come on, don't just smile. Reply me, I hope you've been taking good care of Laura?" she asked again, this time around Frank nodded his head in acknowledgement. "That means yes," she heaved a sigh of relief and then thanked him, "thank you so much"
"The pleasure is mine, Ma'am" he coyly uttered.
"So, Laura, how did you managed to convince Jessica? I asked her but what she told me didn't convince me. She said when she heard I fell, she decided to confess. But I know Jessica won't just do that without people's intervention, someone must have talked to her and my mind is telling me it's you. However, I want to confirm if really you were the one that convinced her to confess" she said making me to smile while recalling the hell I went through in order to talk sense into Jessica's skull. .
"It wasn't easy" I muttered, and just then she screamed.
"Yes! I knew it was you" she said smiling at me. "Your parents must be proud of you, Laura, I am sure they are and will always be wherever they are at the moment. I pray, may their souls continue to rest in peace" she added. Tears gathered in my eyes and I nearly dispensed them, but somehow I was able to hold them. I should be strong, shedding tears would only make me weak and the more weak I become the more vulnerable I would be to unfavorable situations or circumstances. "I know it's hard to remember, I am sorry I shouldn't have reminded you of them" she apologized.
"No, it's okay" I sniffed and gave her a fainted smile. "Although it pains to remember. I lost them on the same day, you know, and it's not as if I have siblings. I have none..."
"That's why I asked you to come over and live with us here even though I know I have a tough daughter" she said acknowledging the fact that Jessica wasn't an easy going person. "When I discussed with her that I would invite you here, she wasn't happy. I thought she would be since she was the only one too. But it turned out I was wrong, however there was no way I could open my eyes and watch you crumble in the pain of losing your parents as well as in loneliness. Plus I heard your parents were in debt, which means most of their properties would be sold to settle the debts"
"I also didn't want to come but I have no choice, you are the only family I have so far. And I believe you will take good care of me like you very own Jessica" I said and that made her smile. "Yes, Aunt, I believe in you"
"Thank you for believing in me" she said and held my hand, "You have a very kind heart like your mom. Whenever I look at you, I used to see her. I see her in you, Laura" she brought my parents topic again but this time around I was able to control myself. "Your mom was a very good woman, and same goes to your dad. That's why you are good too, or maybe you got your kind heart by imitating your parents. Jessica never cared to imitate me in doing good things except bad things. And that used to pain me, Laura, it really used to pain me" she complained.
